u/BarSubstantial1583

NOTE: I've found two more, Treebeard, It is easier to shout stop! and Sam, Handsome is as handsome does. Suggestions gratefully accepted!

The Hobbit

Adventures are not all pony-rides in May sunshine. “Roast Mutton”

There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something. Thorin. “Over Hill and Under Hill”

Escaping goblins to be caught by wolves! Bilbo. “”Out of the Frying-Pan Into the Fire”

It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him. “Inside Information”

Every worm has his weak spot. Bilbo. “Inside Information”

Never laugh at live dragons. Bilbo. “Inside Information”

Part 1, The Fellowship of the Ring

Legendary gold (mysteriously obtained if not positively ill-gotten), is anyone's for the finding – unless the search is interrupted. “A Long Expected Party”

Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends. Gandalf. “Shadow of the Past”

“Three Is Company”:

Gildor: Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger.

Frodo: Go not to the Elves for counsel, for they will say both no and yes.

Short cuts make long delays. Pippin. “Shortcut to Mushrooms”

It never rains but it pours. Butterbur. “At the Sign of the Prancing Pony”

There's no accounting for East and West. Butterbur. “At the Sign of the Prancing Pony”

One thing drives out another. Butterbur. “Strider”

All that is gold does not glitter,

Not all those who wander are lost;

The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

– Bilbo, quoted in “Strider”

He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom. Gandalf. “Council of Elrond”

Even the most subtle spiders may leave a weak thread. Gandalf. “Council of Elrond”

Oft in lies truth is hidden. Glorfindel. "Council of Elrond"

It is wisdom to recognize necessity, when all other courses have been weighed, though as folly it may appear to those who cling to false hope. Gandalf. “Council of Elrond”

When winter first begins to bite

and stones crack in the frosty night,

when pools are black and trees are bare,

'tis evil in the Wild to fare.

• Bilbo. “The Ring Goes South”

“The Ring Goes South”:

Gimli: Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.

Elrond: Let him not vow to walk in the dark, who has not seen the nightfall.

Gimli: Sworn word may strengthen quaking heart.

If you bring a Ranger with you, it is well to pay attention to him. Gandalf. “The Ring Goes South”

When heads are at a loss, bodies must serve. Boromir. “The Ring Goes South”

One must tread the path that need chooses. Gandalf. “A Journey in the Dark”

“A Journey in the Dark”:

Boromir: The wolf that one hears is worse than the orc that one fears.

Aragorn: But where the warg howls, there also the orc prowls.

Live and learn! Sam. “Lothlorien”

It's the job that's never started as takes longest to finish. Sam “Mirror of Galadriel”

Do not despise the lore that has come down from distant years; for oft it may chance that old wives keep in memory word of things that once were needful for the wise to know. Celeborn. “Farewell to Lorien”

Part 2, The Two Towers

Not idly do the leaves of Lorien fall. Aragorn. “The Riders of Rohan”

Where sight fails, the earth may bring rumor. Aragorn. “The Riders of Rohan”

Rede oft is found at the rising of the Sun. Legolas. “The Riders of Rohan”

Not we but those who come after will make the legends of our time. Aragorn. “The Riders of Rohan”

When the great fall, the less must lead. Aragorn. “The Riders of Rohan”

Good and ill have not changed since yesteryear; nor are they one thing among Elves and Dwarves and another among men. Aragorn “The Riders of Rohan”

There are some things that it is better to begin than to refuse, though the end may be dark. Aragorn. “The Riders of Rohan”

There are Ents and Ents. Treebeard. “Treebeard”

[I]t is easier to shout stop! than to do it. Treebeard. “Treebeard”

Songs like trees bear fruit only in their own time and their own way: and sometimes they are withered untimely. Treebeard. “Treebeard”

Few can foresee whither their road will lead them, till they come to its end. Aragorn. “The White Rider”

A treacherous weapon is ever a danger to the hand. Gandalf. “The White Rider”

Seldom does thief ride home to the stable. Aragorn. “King of the Golden Hall”

News from afar is seldom sooth. Theoden. “King of the Golden Hall”

The wise speak only of what they know. Gandalf “King of the Golden Hall”

“King of the Golden Hall”:

Theoden: Faithful heart may have froward tongue.

Gandalf: To crooked eyes, truth may wear a wry face.

Men need many words before deeds. Gimli, “King of the Golden Hall”

He that flies counts every foeman twice. Scout of Rohan. “Helm's Deep”

Oft the unbidden guest proves the best company. Eomer. “Helm's Deep”

Dawn is ever the hope of men. Aragorn. “Helm's Deep”

None know what the new day shall bring him. Aragorn, The Two Towers "Helm's Deep"

One who cannot cast away a treasure at need is in fetters. Aragorn. “Flotsam and Jetsam”

Don't be hasty. Treebeard, reported by Pippin, “Flotsam and Jetsam”

Oft does hatred hurt itself. Gandalf. “The Voice of Saruman”

Oft evil will shall evil mar. Theoden. “The Palantir”

The burned hand teaches best. After that, advice about fire goes to the heart. Gandalf. “The Palantir”

Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give that to them? Then be not too eager to deal out death in the name of justice, fearing for your own safety. Even the wise cannot see all ends. Gandalf, recalled by Frodo. “The Taming of Smeagol” [NB: This is different wording from Gandalf's statement of it in “Shadow of the Past.”]

One good turn deserves another. Frodo. “The Taming of Smeagol”

Night oft brings news to near kindred. Faramir. “Window on the West”

Fair speech may hide a foul heart. Samwise. “Window on the West”

Handsome is as handsome does. Samwise. “Window on the West”

The servant has a claim on the master for service, even service in fear. Frodo's thought. “The Forbidden Pool”

Where there's life there's hope (and need of vittles). Hamfast Gamgee, reported by Sam. “Journey to the Crossroads”

Part 3, The Return of the King

Looks may belie the man. Denethor. “Minas Tirith”

Generous deed should not be checked by cold counsel. Gandalf. “Minas Tirith”

Men who go warring afield look ever to the next hope of food and drink. Beregond. “Minas Tirith”

At the table small men may do the greater deeds. Beregond. “Minas Tirith”

Strange accents do not mar fair speech. Beregond. “Minas Tirith”

The hasty stroke goes oft astray. Aragorn. “The Passing of the Grey Company”

In the morning counsels are best and night changes many thoughts. Theoden. “The Muster of Rohan”

Where will wants not, a way opens. “Dernhelm” (Eowyn). “The Muster of Rohan”

A traitor may betray himself and do good that he does not intend. Gandalf. “The Siege of Gondor”

Dead men are not friends to living men, and give them no gifts. Ghan-buri-Ghan. “The Ride of the Rohirrim”

Need brooks no delay, yet late is better than never. Eomer. “The Ride of the Rohirrim”

Great heart will not be denied. Theoden. “Battle of the Pelennor Fields”

Twice blessed is help unlooked for. Eomer. “Battle of the Pelennor Fields”

It's not always a misfortune being overlooked. Merry. “Houses of Healing”

The hands of a king are the hands of a healer. Ioreth. “Houses of Healing”

Oft hope is born when all is forlorn. Legolas. “The Last Debate”

It needs but one foe to breed a war, and those who have not swords can still die upon them. Eowyn. “The Steward and the King”

It is not always good to be healed in body. Nor is it always evil to die in battle. Eowyn. “The Steward and the King”

Many folk like to know beforehand what is to be set on the table; but those who have laboured to prepare the feast like to keep their secret; for wonder makes the words of praise louder. Gandalf. “The Steward and the King”

The tree grows best in the land of its sires. King Elessar. “Many Partings”

A snake without fangs may crawl where he will. Treebeard. “Many Partings”

There are some wounds that cannot be wholly healed. Gandalf. “Homeward Bound”

You've got to have grist to grind. Farmer Cotton. “The Scouring of the Shire”

It is useless to meet revenge with revenge. Frodo. “The Scouring of the Shire”

It's an ill wind as blows nobody no good, And All's well as ends Better. Hamfast Gamgee. “The Grey Havens”

Not all tears are an evil. Gandalf. “The Grey Havens”

– 30 –

"Wind is changing!" These are the last words of Ghan-buri-Ghan to King Theoden and the Riders, and they carry a lot. They end the encounter (one of the best and best-liked of such meetings) on a dramatic note. And they portend an even more dramatic event: the breaking of the darkness in direct spite of the will of Sauron.

"Don't want fish." This is runner up. With its humor, perhaps unintended, it shows the humanity (or whatever word applies to hobbits and their kind) of Smeagol/Gollum, and the fact that his is not wholly ruined, even at the end. And it's what any of us would have done in that situation, thinking, "OK, problem solved."

One Thing Tolkien Didn't Think About, And Another That He Did.

Why didn't Aragorn speak with Eomer in the language of Rohan?

I had studied French for a while before my first trip to Europe (I'm from the US,), and it made a big difference in France.

That made me think: If Aragorn had hailed Eomer and the Riders in the language of Rohan, this action would have created, not an instant bond of trust, but a less suspicious atmosphere. One reason Eomer stopped to talk with the strangers is that he was intrigued. “There is something strange about you, Strider. That is no name for a man that you give. And strange too is your raiment.” Aragorn speaking Rohan would have grabbed his attention even more. Only in his interactions with Hama before the doors of Edoras does Aragorn display his linguistic skills.

Aragorn and the politics of succession – plus Faramir and Beregond

There has been a lot of discussion here at TolkienFans about Aragorn's family tree. I'm not going to wade into those waters. I will point out that in the appendix it states that Denethor saw through the guise of Thorongil, and knew he was an heir who could supplant him. This inflamed his jealousy, which would have impacted any claim to the throne by Aragorn. That's the political reality, irrespective of any legal or traditional basis for Aragorn's claim. Imrahil, who knew Denethor's personality, said it might be a tough sell, not knowing at the time that Denethor had taken the ashes-to-ashes route.

How does the Great Storyteller handle all this? Quite well.

Step one, Denethor is written out of the series, as they say in Hollywood. But that's only part of the story. In the appendix on Gondor, a “Council of Gondor” is mentioned. Also, in the description of Minas Tirith, in the chapter I believe is titled, “Minas Tirith,” the author speaks about houses of purer blood. So there are structures and traditions and VIPs that don't enter into the tale. But they're there.

Important to Aragorn's claim is his leadership in the War, taking the Paths of the Dead, and arriving in the Black Fleet in time to defeat the Enemy's forces. And he has a cool flag. King Earnur was given the crown in large part because of his skill in battle. Much more recently, Faramir tells Frodo that the warrior is valued above others in the current Gondor.

(The manner in which Aragorn assumes the mantle of leadership is a study on its own. He doesn't usurp it from someone else. Denethor is narrowly focused on defending Minas Tirith in his fantasy of a mano a mano with Sauron. Aragorn sees the whole picture, including the Quest. And through his decades of struggle, he has become the hardiest of men. He is also the true heir of Isildur, and hence, able to summon the Dead.)

His kingship is first recognized by Angbor the Fearless (We want more Angbor!), who follows him north by land. After the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, a number of things happen. Somewhere along the way, Imrahil (We want more Imrahil!) recognizes Aragorn as the heir to the throne. Ioreth utters the now-famous aphorism, “The hands of the king are the hands of a healer.” Faramir awakens and calls Aragorn “king.” And some anonymous Gondorian starts calling him “the Lord Elfstone,” which immediately catches on.

So Aragorn has the masses and the elites and is duly crowned.

Then there's the future of Faramir. He is a beloved figure in MinasTirith. And he's the heir of a line that has ruled the kingdom for a thousand years. Are we going to see him skulking around Minas Tirith, cutting ribbons and attending funerals? No we're not. He goes to Ithilien, using his skills as a leader and perhaps as a warrior, to rebuild and renew that province. And he'll be half of a true power couple. This action does not feel like the kingly practice of sending a rival to the provinces. The renewal of Ithilien is a daunting task. And he had already spoken to Eowyn of his desire to remove there.

Finally, Beregond. If you understand the importance of Faramir for the post-War kingdom, then you can appreciate the actions taken by Beregond. But he did kill three men, two of them prominent knights, members of the steward's household guard. If he continues on in Minas Tirith, there's the potential for a bit of unpleasantness with bitter and bereaved relatives and comrades. So in his case, there are definite political reasons to post him to “the provinces.”

Tolkien's use of water seems to generate fewer comments than trees or mountains, but I may be wrong about that. I did see a post on another sub-r about water, but it was trying (again!) to shoehorn Christianity into LOTR.

First, I don't believe there's a general framework created around water. Rivers and streams are used to move people and goods. Water is used by the Ents to destroy Isengard, and by Thorin & Co to prevent access to the gate of Erebor. But these are engineering feats, not magic. Major settlements are built near rivers, and rivers form natural boundaries between lands.

So if we leave aside these uses of water on our Earth, we're left with a bit of a patchwork.

Tolkien's world contains a dose of animism in parallel with his hierarchical polytheism. Goldberry is the daughter of the Withywindle. So the Withywindle has some sort of spirit or personification. (Whether the Withywindle itself has magical properties is not clear. Merry says that the Withywindle Valley is where all the “queerness” of the forest is concentrated. Is that created by the river, or by the trees next to the river?)

The Aduin is also spoken of as something with agency. Aragorn remarks that the River of Gondor will take care that nothing dishonors Boromir's remains. (The aspect of animism is seriously neglected by devotees of the Silmarillion here at TolkienFans. You have Legolas reporting on the voices of the stones in Eregion, Gimli mentioning the night speech of plant and stone. The Fox! But in a thread about Boromir's remains riding the falls and being seen by Faramir, no one credited the River itself. Of course, I did, but no one else.)

There's also Kheled-zâram, which displays in its depths the crown of Durin.

The Nimrodel has a voice and healing properties. The Entwash also seems to have healing properties. When Merry and Pippin bathe their legs and feet, they feel some of the trauma of their ordeal at the hands of the Orcs fading away.

There's everyone's favorite use of water – Elrond commanding a flood of the Loudwater to wash away the Nine Riders.

Finally, there's the Mirror of Galadriel. In that case, it seems like it's the power of the Lady that creates the Mirror, not some special water.

The Code of Middle Earth includes the idea that Water is Life, to use a recent political slogan. Tolkien treats water as part of the earth, sometimes given special attributes or powers, but always to be cherished and revered.

So breaking that code and polluting water is evil, or associated with evil. The Dead Marshes. There is also the unclean pool by the rear door or Moria, the polluted stream flowing from Morgul Vale, the enchanted stream in Mirkwood (though it's not clear if it was actually polluted) and of course, the Mill in the Shire, which Saruman rigged up to pour filth into the Water. Willfully and wantonly polluting water – in the very heart of the Shire! – is the apex of his evil.

EDIT: Responding to a comment. I omitted the phial. Here's the passage, courtesy of a helpful TolkienFan:

>“And you, Ring-bearer,” [Galadriel] said, turning to Frodo. “I come to you last who are not last in my thoughts. For you I have prepared this.” She held up a small crystal phial: it glittered as she moved it, and rays of white light sprang from her hand. “In this phial,” she said, “is caught the light of Eärendil's star, set amid the waters of my fountain. It will shine still brighter when night is about you. May it be a light to you in dark places, when all other lights go out. Remember Galadriel and her Mirror!”